Manchester United take on Paris Saint Germain in the first knockout round of the Champions League at Old Trafford tonight.
When the draw was made, both teams were in vastly different shape. At the time, Jose Mourinho was still the Manchester United manager and PSG still had their best players fully fit.
Interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has since restored the Man UTD way to Old Trafford. Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in particular are transformed under Solskjaer’s guidance.
Manchester United genuinely look like a team capable of competing for top honours. It’s a far cry from some months ago, when nobody would have given them a chance of beating PSG.
Additionally, PSG’s injury crisis means that they are weak, or at least as weak as a team with unlimited talent can be.
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Ideally, they would lineup with a terrifying front three of Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe. With Neymar and Cavani injured, PSG will be somewhat making it up as they go along.
They will likely play a 4 – 3 – 3, with Draxler, Mbappe and Di Maria up front. In midfield, Verratti, Marquinhos and new signing Leandro Paredes are likely to play.
Marquinhos is a natural center back, there are doubts over Verratti’s fitness and Paredes has only been in Paris for two weeks. PSG also have Eric Maxim Choupo Moting, but the striker lacks both form and quality. Aging right back Dani Alves could also replace one of Verratti or Paredes in midfield.
It all looks set up for a Man UTD win, but Solskjaer played down their advantage, appearing on the BBC’s Football Daily Podcast.
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“Of course any team are missing players like Neymar, Cavani, Meunier will feel the effects but that will give the other players a chance.
“For me it makes it more unpredictable for us, who they’re going to play. When you’ve seen that front three for the whole season you know what to expect so this time around we’re guessing a little bit.”
UTD are 5/4 to win the match with Paddy Power, while PSG are 21/10 to spoil the party.
